Dance centre aims to break down barriers
Ian PaineA County Durham charity working to transform lives through dance is seeking a new studio where disabled and non-disabled dancers can train, create and perform together.
TIN arts, which has been operating since 1999, said over recent years demand has soared but capacity was limited due to the size of its current space in Pity Me, Durham.
A fundraising appeal has been launched to transform a former county council building in Spennymoor into a purpose-designed, fully accessible dance training centre.
The charity said it would become a "vibrant, inclusive creative hub that breaks down the physical barriers that have held dancers back for decades".
As well as a shortage of space in its current building, some areas are inaccessible leaving some prospective participants unable to participate fully.
Tin Arts said its high-quality studios and facilities would reduce waiting lists and "reflect the ambition and talent of the artists".
The charity's executive director, Martin Wilson, said: "For too long, we've had a community that welcomes everyone but a building that doesn't.
"The TIN Dance House will remove those barriers for good - this is about creating a home where everybody belongs."
Ian PaineA parent whose child currently attends classes said: "It lets people take themselves and their development seriously.
"It gives them a poise and a presence that challenges perceptions of disability and demands that the world take them seriously too."